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(No Model.) MpW. LYON 8v W. B. GORDON.

LINE THROWING PROJEOTILE.

N. PETERS. Pham-unwgnphaf, waminmn. D.C.

UNTTED STATES PATENT Prien.

MARCUS W. LYON AND'WILLIAM B. GORDON, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

LINE-THROWING. PROJECTILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,969, dated October 17, 1882.

Application filed February 23, 1882.

To all whom it may concern Y Beit known that we, MARCUS W. LYON and WM. B. GORDON, of the Ordnance Department, United States Army, stationed at the Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and uset'ul Projectile for Saving Life and other useful Purposes, as fully set forth in the following specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to throw a line from one point to another for means of communication, to save life, and for many useful purposes. Its particular object is to throw a line into the window of a burning building to enable the occupants to draw up any dej vice by means of which they may make their escape. It also finds an application, when used in guns of appropriate caliber, in throwing lines from ship to shore or from shore to ship, for the purpose of enabling persons to escape from ship wrecked or stranded vessels. Its small size and portability, when lused with small arms, render it very useful for many purposes in the military service-such as aiding in the crossing of rivers and for conveying information through short distances when other means are not at hand, &c.

In the accompanying drawings the parts are shown as follows:

Figure l shows side views, partly sectioned, and also end views, ot' our device, Fig. 2, similar views of a modification.4

A is a case or holder, forming with spindle the exterior part of the projectile; B, spindle to receive the bullet when tired; O, bullet; D, attachment for line; E, line.

The case or holder A, containing the spindle B, is secured to the muzzle of' the gun, the flanged part ot' the case acting as a spring to hold it securely until :the piece is tired, as shown in the drawings. The spindle Bis thus centered in the bore ofthe gun, so that it; will receive the impact of the bullet C. The spindle pierces the bullet and secures itin the case, the whole combination thus forming the pro- (No model.)

jectile. The spindle may be pointed, and the head ofthe bullet may be either flat or have a shallow hole bored in its point, so as to be pierced more readily. The same result may be secured by not pointing the spindle, but by boring the hole deeper in the bullet, so that the spindle will be friction-tight in the bullet. The arrangement of' the spindle and bullet enables the inertia ofthe external part of the projectile to be overcome gradually, so that a high velocity may be ohtainedwithout injury tothe attachment for theline. This object may also be obtained by substituting for the case a holder with a conical cavity for receiving the bullet with substantially the same result as described above.

in the case A (shown in dotted lines) when the gun is tired before the bullet reaches spin7f dle B.

The projectile can be used with any arm, and the manner of doing sois as follows: The eXteriorpa-rtof the projectile, consisting ot' the case and spindle, is secured to the muzzle of lthe gun, as described, and the line attached. The cartridge, with the bullet modified as above, is then placed in the chamber ready for tiring. The line may be faked in a box attached to the barrel, orlaid outon the ground, so as to be taken up easily; or a .ball of wrapping-twine may be used instead ot' a takingbox, the line coming out from the inside of the ball when the piece is tired. The gun as thus prepared is aimed and rcd and the bullet attaches itself to the spindle in the manner de scribed, the line being thrown to the desired point.

The advantages of this invention are, first, portability and ease ot' application; second, adaptability to any small arm or line-throwing cannon; third, the inertia ofthe combination on the muzzle is overcome gradually, thus allowing a high velocity and secure attachment for the line; fourth, the accuracy of tire when used with rilies enabling a line to be thrown into the Window of :my high building l 2. A line-bearing cap adapted to fit upon when on re, affording urapid und easy means i the muzzle of a gun, and having a central spinof escape. die extending toward the bore of the gun to Having thus described the value and object en gage with the bullet when tired, as set forth. 5 of the said invention We claim- 1. A line-bearing cap to t: over the muzzle of a gun, said cap having passage fol` the escape of gas, and being adapted to rest upon Witnesses:

and become part of the projectile When the gun J. J. OREILLY, 1o is red, substantiallyas described. l JAS. B. DUFFY. 

